Hiking, Scrambling, Mountaineering, and Climbing

Good quality, has a certain style which makes them stand out, organic/natural fabrics (if that's a thing... I guess similar to ventile) often pop up on sport pursuit, but yeah even discounted, still pricey. I have a bag from them, I like it.

They seem really well made and as a company are also really big into using recycled materials. I was actually looking at getting the ratatosk bag, which one do you have?

For anyone interested I'm just back from the John Muir Trail in California. It was absolutely brilliant. Physically very demanding, but so beautiful. My wife and I haven't been thru-hiking before, so this was a bit of a challenge but we loved it. Planning our next adventure already (suggestions welcome)!

The only thing I'd change was footwear - I used pair of reasonably well worn in gore tex hiking boots, but they gave me blisters about 130 miles into the hike. I ignored backpacking forum advice to wear trail runners that breathe, because who expects rain in CA, and I think the moisture got me. By the end of the day my socks were literally steaming when the boots came off.

If anyone is tempted to do it would be happy to help with itinerary, kit list, suggestions on where to pitch a tent etc etc!

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That looks incredible, not heard of the John Muir trail but will have a read up on it.

That first picture is stunning! How about the outher side of the country for the next one?
The Appalachian Trail

Cannot recommend enough!

@jdp We spoke to a couple of folks who've hiked the AT, they said it was a "continuous tunnel of trees with no views" and "an endurance test". The real crazies do the 3000+ mile long CDT, which involves multiple days of hiking just to get your resupplies, and in the far north, the opportunity to run away from grizzly bears.

I caught this on Netflix a while back: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8608620/

Ultra-runner Karl Meltzer has long dreamed of setting the speed record for crossing America's Appalachian Trail. Now he sets out for his third and final attempt to run the 3,523 km (2,188 miles) in less than 46 days, 8 hours, 6 min.

Much in it between Decathlon, Alpkit and PlanetX if i want the cheapest rechargeable headlamp ?

(Default mode will be decathlon because I can just roll into the shop)

What do you need to use it for?

John Muir Trail

Looks amazing! Always wanted to do a "thru-hike"

How many days was it? Where did you start?

gardening tbh. With the occasional night time walk.

Ah, just wanted to check that you really do need/want a cheap as possible one rather than something super waterproof and shockproof.

I doubt you'll go wrong with decathlon although you can buy some very cheap bright ones on Amazon for a fiver or so
.

It's definitely worth it if you can get some extended time off - it was our honeymoon so employers couldn't say no to a month really :)

We were hiking from the 6th to the 21st with one zero day on the 11th. Our permit started in Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite and headed out over Kearsarge Pass, which was about 3 days before the official end of the trail. Walking from about 8am to 4pm each day with about a 30 minute lunch break. The most I had in my pack was about 16kg including two litres of water - definitely too heavy but that also included 7 days of food from a resupply (although we ran out early...).

Weather-wise it was mainly hot and sunny, dropping to freezing overnight. Had a couple of minor snow / hail storms that were actually quite fun, although did cause some worry about ice over the higher passes (we crossed five that are above 11,000ft).

Some unsolicited pics attached as this gave me an excuse to look at them again...!

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^ lovely. Not quite as scenic, 6yo enjoyed first Edale to Mam Tor loop today.

Always Decathlon

Spending two weeks in Scotland over Xmas and NYE.

First week with the fam staying near Aberfeldy/Pitlochry - recommendations for nice long winter walks that don’t require knowledge of axe arrests/wearing crampons?

Week two with my partner - we’ll be in Aviemore for a night, Clachaig Inn for another, bothies for the rest (though not sure which). Classic winter routes please!! Both competent climbers/walkers/comfortable on snow.

Thanks

Abergavenny is in Wales, no?

Doh, Aberfeldy!!

Can anyone recommend some THIN inner soles for hiking boots. Looking to increase the volume of my boots for my fat feet...

I've got a pair of Adidas Terrex boots that I've had for a couple of years (similar to these ones but an older version I think). I really like them, they're light and comfortable and used to be totally waterproof. They're hardly waterproof at all anymore though. Any tips for reproofing them? I've never done anything like that before so have no idea what I'm doing.

Which ever flavour of Nikwax is most relvant for your shoe fabric would be the most obvious suggestion

Bidean nam Bian is nice in winter EDIT: should go without saying but always check the avalanche forecast and take precautions on the hill. http://www.sais.gov.uk

What sort of boots are they? Do they have a membrane? If so, once the membrane has gone there isn't much you can do.

Not so far a drive from Aberfeldy is Ben Venue. Which I will forever say has the best view per meter climbed in all off Scotland.

Ben Lawers, Tarmacan Ridge or Ben Vorlich / Stuc a Chroin are all good too